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1. What if you change your mind after you sign the Recognition of Parentage?

During the first 60 days, either parent can revoke the Recognition of Parentage. Within those 60 days, the Recognition of Parentage can be undone by writing on a blank piece of paper that it is being revoked. The revocation must include the child's date of birth and name, your name, and the other parent's name. The revocation must be signed in front of a notary public and then filed with the Office of the State Registrar. A formal revocation form is available at the child support office or the Office of the State Registrar.
After 60 days, the Recognition of Parentage cannot be revoked. A court action would need to be filed, asking the court to undo the Recognition of Parentage. This must be done within one year after signing the Recognition of Parentage. However, if genetic tests are obtained and show that the man who signed the Recognition of Parentage is not the father of the child, the court must be asked to undo the Recognition of Parentage within six months of getting the test results.

2. What are the advantages for fathers who sign the Recognition of Parentage?

• Helps fathers stay involved with their child as their child grows up.
• Gives fathers the right to ask the court for parenting time (visitation) and custody.
• Allows fathers to put the child on their medical and dental insurance to cover the child's health care needs.
• Gives fathers the right to be notified of any adoption proceedings.
• Allows the father's name to be added to the child's birth record.

3. What are the advantages for mothers who sign the Recognition of Parentage?

• gives the child a legal father.
• gives the mother the right to ask for financial support, including child support, medical and dental support and child care support from the legal father.
• gives the mother the right to obtain medical information about the legal father.

4. What are the disadvantages of signing the Recognition of Parentage?

By signing the Recognition of Parentage instead of going to court to establish parentage legal rights are given up including:
• Genetic testing to prove whether the man is the biological father of the child.
• Having a trial to determine whether the man is the biological father of the child including cross-examining witnesses at trial and testifying about who is the biological father of the child.
• Having an attorney represent you.
Also, the Recognition of Parentage gives the mother physical custody and legal custody of the child. It does not give the father automatic rights to parenting time, or access to the child's school and medical records. If parents cannot agree about these issues, they may need to go to court and ask a judge to issue a court order relating to custody and parenting time.
What if there are doubts about who the father is? The Recognition of Parentage should only be signed if both the mother and alleged father are sure he is the biological father of the child. The child support office can arrange for genetic testing if paternity establishment services are applied for or public assistance is being expended for the child.
What if the mother and/or father are under the age of 18 when they sign a Recognition of Parentage? When one or both parents are minors and sign the Recognition of Parentage, a court order is the only way to get a final determination of parentage. Six months after the youngest turns 18, the Recognition of Parentage becomes valid and is the same as a court order determining parentage.